How Common Is Checking In Exotic Wood Risers?

[Izzy]

Hello folks, hope you all had a good time with your families yesterday.  Im ordering my one piece Silvertip this weekend and although Im considering an exotic wood riser, in the past I have seen 3 with checking issues. The bows were bony, cocobolo and zircote. Is checking species dependant and if so what are woods to avoid?

   Ultimately, Ill take Daves advice into consideration as well but Id just like to hear some experiences of others that might just lead me to believe that the bows I saw with checks were anomalies.

   Im not just talking Schafers, Id like to hear of experience with any bowyers products, names not needed. I have a solid bocote riser Schafer that was built in 99 and it looks showroom new so I am aware that not all riser blocks are equal. Im just looking for some other folks opinions before I choose an exotic or rosewood actionwood.       Thanks, Izzy

[wingnut]

ebony is the worst, ziricote second and coco is usually pretty good.

A lot depends on the moisture content and how it's dried.

Bocote almost never checks.

Mike

[Izzy]

Thanks Mike, pretty much what I have seen but I had no clue if it was flukey or not.

I have a ziricote riser in my newest Sarrels longbow (1 1/2 yrs old now), and so far, no checking. I sure hope it stays that way after reading Mikes post!

Bisch

[black velvet]

I have a 3 year old cocobolo riser that developed a small check after 6 months. But no further problem. Not the first cocobolo I have seen with a check.

[YORNOC]

I have stayed away from an all snakewood Silvertip because of the infamous checking.
As you said, Dave will let you know.
Actionwood will always be the safer way to go....but what fun is that?????

[Longbowlogan]

I have a Bacote and Macassar ebony Schafer and don't have any problems as of right now. I bought it used from the original and I think it's around 3-4 years old.

[Sixby]

Macassar Ebony is good, Snake wood and Gabon Ebony are the worst. I believe most that use Snake have it stabilized and that makes it so expensive most people will not buy it.
I will not warrant a riser with Gabon ebony and have told one customer that and he insisted on it. I fixed it for him when it checked and had to refinish the entire riser. Now I absolutely refuse to build one with gabon since you can use phenolic and not tell the difeerence anyway and phenolic will not check.
I would not even consider a riser with Gabon or snakewood since there are a variety of other woods without the problems that are pretty fantastic. LIke Koa.

God bless, Steve

[doubleo]

Could someone tell me what checking meaning means?

[Straitshot]

doubelo, Checking is the formation of cracks that generally follow the grain in wood. It is usually caused by the woods moisture content fluctuating as in drying.

[Jedimaster]

I once bought a second-hand bow with a tulip wood riser. Beautiful bow but when it arrived, I noticed it had a couple checks. I returned it to the original owner and he sent it to the manufacturer which promptly took care of it. Highly respected company that knows bows so I couldn't attribute it to improper preparation or use - just assumed it was an issue with that wood. I've had many bows before and since in various ebonies and rosewoods with no issues.

[nashoba]

Izzy I've built 2  longbows  with Gabon ebony the first was ebony and hickory . The first one had a checked right near the fade out I fixed it with thin set super glue and refinished it worked fine for the rest of the time I owned the bow which was about 4 years.  I gave that bow to a kid that a kid that had a interest in traditional archery. The second longbow I put Pierce points in it and the same thing happened now my neighbor has one very costly bow to bowfish with. That bow that I shot that little buck with in the New York thread has a African black wood riser pm me and let me know if you still want pictures I don't know how to post them here.

[Bldtrailer]

I have 2 Dale Dyes both checkered no issues cocobolo  

[BigJim]

The vast majority of issues with exotic woods is due to moisture content. The harder woods such as gaboon and other ebonies take a very long time to dry. Even if the builder knew how to confirm dryness (very few do and they rely on the wood supplier to tell them) they will often hedge the bet by using it a little too soon.

After the first year, it isn't too likely that you will experience any more issues if there was an issue to start with. By this time, the wood has done what it's going to do. The moisture level has stabilized and the shrinking or less likely swelling has completed.

A takes a lot more than a moisture meter to figure this out but it's not rocket science and certain woods are less susceptible.

Many exotics are capable of being kiln dried and others don't take much time to dry such as bocote. Bocote is also so available that much sits around for years waiting to get used and by that time it is dry.

Other issues that are often blamed on the oiliness of certain woods is really a moisture issue as well. Ever wonder how some builders never have an issue with cocobolo yet others can't keep a bow together when using it?

I have used a ton of ebonies and can't recall an issue with a check. Not saying it hasn't happened but I don't remember so...meaning it hasn't been an issue. Once dry, they are pretty easy to work with.
BigJIm

[Bow man]

Originally posted by wingnut:
ebony is the worst, ziricote second and coco is usually pretty good.

A lot depends on the moisture content and how it's dried.

Bocote almost never checks.

Mike

X2

[cacciatore]

I love Gabon Ebony and I have dozen s of riser Made out of it. The elder see some Robertsons that are 20 plus years old never had a problem. Most of my Silvertips have Gabon in them and I never noticed a single crack. Dave gives a lot of care to hard woods and also when cut he allows time to dry some more.

[Izzy]

Thank you fellas, informative advice and much appreciated.

[bucknut]

I have a coco-phenolic that checked bad, and a Brazilian rosewood that just checked in the grip area. Both Bigger name bows. One was brand new and checked within 3 months.

[Sixby]

I simply would rather not have a customer that has a riser that is checking. The ebony I used not only checked dry it was inside my house for well over a year before I use it. It filled with cyro and finished but I did have to redo the entire riser. Not what I want to spend my time doing plus when this happens the customer will always have in their mind that the wood checked.
So , if you want to build with it,. Go for it with my blessings.

I will have to admit that I do not know as much about curing wood as some people do and for sure not as much as Big JIm or Kirk. So with my wood curing ability which is the best I can do , I pass on Snakewood and Gabon Ebony.
On the other hand I have never had a problem with bacote or cocabola so do not have a problem using them.
God bless, Steve

[BigJim]

It can take a 2" thick piece of gabon 3-4 years to dry depending on how it is handled. Even in the proper environment, it takes a long time.

If a guy has a moisture meter with adjustable density levels, you can get an idea of Mc but only as deeply as the probes will reach.

If the block can be cut to access near the core, another probing will tell the tale. If not, there are still several ways to determine, but nothing beats previous knowledge of the whereabouts of the wood and time frame for past storage.

Black and white ebony and Ziricote is extremely prone to cracking or checking until it is dry.
Once at 8% or below, it is stable and easy to work. I have found gabon and coco to be the same.

I also have several snakewood bows in existence. I have had one back for repairing a check, but I believe that it too was due to a moisture problem. I am now stabilizing all of the snakewood risers that I use for added security. It is far too beautiful to give up on.
BigJIm